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Munich murder trial begins for neo-Nazi

Mary GearinUpdated
Tue 7 May 2013, 8:14 AM AEST

A trial has begun in Munich of a self confessed racist accused of complicity in the murder of 10 people, two bombings and 15 bank holdups. Prosecutors say the woman, Beate Zschaepe, is the only living member of a three-member racist gang that had gone undetected for more than a decade. The case has raised questions about whether German authorities are willing or able to tackle crimes committed by the far right.

Transcript

TONY EASTLEY: A trial has begun in Munich of a self confessed racist accused of complicity in the murder of 10 people, two bombings and 15 bank hold-ups.

Prosecutors say the woman, Beate Zschaepe, is the only living member of a three-member racist gang that went undetected for more than a decade.

The case has raised questions about whether German authorities are willing or able to tackle crimes committed by the far right.

European correspondent Mary Gearin reports.

(Sound of woman shouting)

MARY GEARIN: Angry people scuffled with police outside the court where Beate Zschaepe was due to appear.

The crowd held photographs of the mostly Turkish murder victims and screamed for justice.

This is a deeply unsettling case for Germany, where much is made of how the country has moved on from its Nazi past.

Thirty-eight year old Beate Zschaepe entered court in a dark suit, with her arms crossed.

She's accused of complicity in a racist killing spree as one of the three founders and members of a secret neo-Nazi cell called the Nationalist Socialist Underground.

Four men are also accused of helping the gang.

Although nine of the 10 murder victims were from immigrant backgrounds - eight were Turkish - the police apparently dismissed theories that the crimes were racially motivated. Instead they blamed Turkish drug gangs and interrogated the victims' own families as suspects.

Mehmet Daimagular is a lawyer acting for two families of the victims.

MEHMET DAIMAGULAR: I would like this trial to trigger a public debate on right wing extremism, on neo-Nazi movements in Germany. We do have a problem, but I have the impression that part, parts of the political class are avoiding a public debate on this challenge for our democracy.

MARY GEARIN: The gang's existence was only revealed in late 2011 after the apparent suicide of the two men believed to be Zschaepe's fellow NSU founders.

Incriminating evidence emerged (sound from DVD) including a macabre DVD showing the Pink Panther counting photos of the victims.

After a few days on the run police say Zschaepe turned herself in, saying, I'm the one you're looking for.

The German Parliament has set up an inquiry into the flawed investigations.

Sebastian Edathy is its chairman.

SEBASTIAN EDATHY: I think it's the most massive failure since Germany started to exist, since it was founded in 1949. This is a severe failure. Many often the question is raised, was there some cover-up or something like that? There are no hints whatsoever into that direction.

But what we can fear and what we found our during investigation are three things. First is that we have so many institutions that are there to look after the safety of the German citizens and they don't cooperate enough. Second is that the rise of neo-Nazism in Germany has been completely underestimated over many, many years. And the third finding is sadly that out of the 10 murder victims, nine had a migrant background and obviously there was some prejudiced approach when it came to solving the case.

MARY GEARIN: Beate Zschaepe's trial has now been adjourned after defence lawyers accused the judge of bias - one more twist in what's sure to be an uncomfortable case for Germany.